James Bond Watches Blog

James Bond watch choices among the most memorable features of 007 movies

The UK Mail Online today has a feature story on the 50 most memorable images from James Bond on-screen.

Second-to-top on the list: James Bond watches.

In total, specific wristwatches worn by the James Bond character were referenced 5 times. And that doesn’t include the “Villain’s watch garotte,” worn by Red Grant in From Russia with Love (coming in at number 35) nor the non-watch “Wrist dart gun” from Moonraker (47).

Curiously, the first James Bond watch named, at number 15, is the “Rolex with laser,” from Never Say Never Again. Not an Eon Productions movie. And, whatever the watch is, it is definitely not a Rolex.

In total, Rolex is named by brand three times. Rolex is the only watchmaker specified for Agent 007 by Ian Fleming in the original books. Jeffery Deaver put a Rolex on his James Bond in the novel Carte Blanche last year. The last movie-Bond to wear a Rolex was actor Timothy Dalton, with a reference 16610 Submariner Date in Licence to Kill, Eon Productions, 1989.

Only one other James Bond watchmaker is cited in this top 50: Seiko.

Showing up with room to spare at number 47, the “Seiko detonator watch” appeared in Moonraker, Eon Productions, 1979. Hat’s off to the marketing power of Seiko for this achievement. Seiko hasn’t been officially associated with James Bond since 1985, when actor Roger Moore wore 3 in A View to a Kill.

On the other hand, it’s stunning to see how little mindshare impact that Omega appears to be getting from the money it’s put into the James Bond movie and video franchises.

The Omega name appears nowhere on this top 50 list. continue reading…

Warner Brothers publicity still featuring Sean Connery as James Bond in "Never Say Never Again"

On the night before Christmas, I posted a rather unique publicity still from Never Say Never Again.

For our purposes, the highlight was the sharp detail it provided on a significant portion of the dial and bracelet of the watch actor Sean Connery was wearing in-character to promote that 1983 Warner Brothers movie release.

Once again, JamesBondWatches.com appears to have uncovered another James Bond watch that merits further research.

Although Never Say Never Again was not an Eon Productions film, Kevin McClory clearly carries the Ian Fleming (legal) pedigree in having brought it about.

And, of course, we have Sir Sean Connery here.

Subsequent to breaking with the information a week ago, a number of folks contacted me to ask if I’d post the entire image from which the watch close-up is a part.

The details are great; now what’s the context? We’d sure appreciate it if you’d also post the full image here.

Happy to oblige.

This close-up shows another watch worn by Sean Connery as James Bond for "Never Say Never Again" (Warner Brothers, 1983)

Well, of course there were—

But I’m talking about “the” signature watch. It would appear that Sean Connery wore at least two clearly different watch models as James Bond for Never Say Never Again (Warner Brothers, 1983).

Most discussions of “the James Bond watch” in Never Say Never Again — which, admittedly, are few and far between to begin with — center around screen captures from the movie where the watch appears to emit a laser beam which Agent 007 uses to break out of restraining shackles.

The dial on that watch appears to have markers, as opposed to numbers, as hour indicators.

Now take a look at the photo I’ve posted here. It’s a close-up of the watch Sean Connery is wearing in-character as James Bond for Never Say Never Again. We’re not going to make a definitive identification from this image. But note that the numbers 2 and 4, for example, are clearly continue reading…